Die structure



Oct. 3, 1967 J. A. KILMER 3,344,650

DIE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 'Q'II/(IIIII/IIII I gm v INVENTOR.JAMES A. K/LMER BY 31 34W A T TORNEV United States Patent 3,344,650 DIESTRUCTURE James A. Kilmer, Bethalto, Ill., assignor to Olin MathiesonChemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 15, 1965,Ser. No. 496,364 Claims. (Cl. 72-469) This invention relates in generalto die structures, and more particularly to a die structure adapted tobe modified for use with blanks of material each of a differentpredetermined size.

It is a common expedient in the production of various articles toposition a blank of material upon a die, or between two opposed dies, sothat various operations may be performed to achieve the desired article.Merely exemplary of such uses of die structures are those employed inconnection with the fabrication of hollow articles known in the art asthe Roll-Bond process, as described in US. Patent No. 2,690,002, issuedto Grenell on Sept. 28, 1954. In the practice of this process, aspecially prepared blank may be positioned between opposed dies, orplatens and the blank is expanded from Within, as by fluid pressure, toform the desired hollow article. As fluid pressures are employedexteriorly of the blank during interior expansion of the blank, it isnecessary to provide appropriate sealing means between the blank and thedie around the periphery of the portion of the blank to be expanded.Typically, this sealing means takes the form of a sealing ring locatedin an indentation, or groove, of the die. Therefore, in this andanalogous operations it has heretofore been considered necessary toprovide a specific die for each size of blank to be produced- Accordingto the instant invention, it has been found that a multiplicity of diesmay be obviated by a single die structure which may be modified toreceive blanks of material of varying sizes, accordingly, it is onlynecessary to employ a single die structure corresponding to the largestblank contemplated to be employed in a given apparatus. The ancillarydevices required to modify the single structure are considerably lighterthan the primary die structure, and are easy to install; thus, theinventory of required dies is considerably reduced, the change-over timebetween blanks of different sizes is substantially reduced, and theoperating cost of apparatus employing such a die structure isresultingly reduced.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a diestructure susceptible to being modified for use with blanks each of adifferent predetermined size.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a die structurewhich is inexpensive of construction and easily modified.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a diestructure obviating the disadvantages of the prior art structures.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art as a detailed description of a particular embodiment proceedswith reference to the drawings which form a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a die structure according to thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an insert employed to modify the diestructure of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the insert of FIGURE 2as applied to the die structure of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a die structure according tothis invention includes as a primary part thereof a platen adapted to besuitably mounted in appropriate apparatus for performing the desiredfunction. The discussion which continues Will be directed to a singledie structure, it being understood 3,344,650 Patented Oct. 3, 1967however that in appropriate environment two die structures will beemployed to achieve the desired results.

The platen 10 is a size for use with the largest size blank contemplatedto be encountered with the apparatus involved. Upon one surface 11 ofthe platen 10 there is formed by any appropriate method a plurality ofsystems of indentations, each of the systems being adapted forcooperation with a particular blank of predetermined size to achieve thedesired results. For example, in the Roll-Bond process, it is sometimesdesirable to produce hollow articles having one sideflat. The expedientemployed in production of such items is to provide one of the platensbetween which the expansion of the blank takes place with a flatsurface, with a single groove around the periphery of this platencorresponding to the periphery of the blank. Within the groove there issituated a sealing member to provide a pressure seal between the platenand the contacting surface of the blank. In the surface of the platenbeneath the blank there may be located one or more holes for exhaust offluids between the platen and the blank to insure intimate contactbetween platen and blank. Thus, as is illustrated in FIG- URE 1, aplurality of grooves 12, 13 and 14 are provided in the surface 11 ofplaten 10, each of the grooves 12, 13 and 14 being arranged for use witha selected blank of predetermined size. Within the areas enclosed byeach of the grooves 12, 13 and 14, there may be a plurality of holes 15,16 and 17, respectively, serving as exhaust holes for the functionindicated above.

Thus, where a blank corresponding to the groove 12 is to be inflated, nomodification of the platen 10 would be required; the appropriate blankwould be merely positioned over the area of platen 10 covered by thegroove 12, and the remaining portions of platen 10 would not interferewith the inflation of such a groove. Where, however, a blankcorresponding to the groove 13 is to be inflated, it will be evidentthat such a blank would cover the area Within the groove 13, and thegroove 12 would interfere with the inflation of such a blank.Specifically, the groove 12, being other than flat, would allow the sideof the blank which is to remain flat to instead expand slightly into thegroove 12. Similarly, for a blank corresponding to the groove 14, boththe grooves 12 and 13 would interfere with the appropriate expansion ofsuch a blank in the same manner.

To obviate the influence of the grooves lying within the area to becovered by a selected blank, there is provided "with the platen 10 aplurality of insert members for closing off a selected number of thegrooves lying Within the groove corresponding to the blank to beinflated. For example, in FIGURE 2 there is illustrated an insert plate20 to be employed with a blank corresponding to the groove 14 of platen10. Insert plate 20 includes a substantially flat upper surface 21 and aperipheral flange 22 adapted to fit Within the groove 14. Additionally,to provide the exhaust function previously described, there is providedthrough the insert member 20 a plurality of exhaust holes 23 incommunication with the exhaust holes 17 of the platen 10.

The function of the insert plate 20 will be apparent from theillustration in the partial cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3. The insertplate 20 is placed upon the surface 11 of the platen 10 with its surface21 closing off the grooves 12 and 13'. The flange 22, which may consistof a downwardly turned portion 24 and an outwardly turned portion 25, isso designed as to be closely received within the groove 14. A sealingmember 30, such as a resilient ring, may then be positioned within thegroove 14, atop the flange 22, for cooperation with the blank to beinflated. The remaining grooves, such as 13 illustrated in FIGURE 3, arethen covered over by the fiat portion 21 of platen 20, and accordinglywill not interfere with operations performed upon the blank. To insurethat the platen 20 does not flex downwardly into any of the groovescovered, a suitable filler 31, for example of rubber, may be positionedwithin each of these covered grooves.

From the above description of an exemplary die structure, it will beevident that the objects indicated above are achieved. Clearly, manyvariations will appear to those skilled in the art. For example, whilethe die structure illustrated is one designed to achieve a fiat surfaceon the corresponding surface of a blank, if a pattern is desired in theblank, the platen and insert plates may be appropriately recessed toprovide such a pattern. Moreover, the rectangular configuration of thedie structure illustrated, the shape of the grooves, and the use of theexhaust holes are by way of example only as applied to the production ofa Roll-Bond one-side-flat article.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modifications of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetail of operation, but rather is intended to encompass all suchmodifications which are Within the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A die structure adapted to be modified for use with blanks ofmaterial each of a different predetermined size, comprising (A) a platenhaving on one surface thereof a plurality of systems of indentations,each of said systems 4 being adapted for cooperation with a blank ofpredetermined size, and

(B) means for closing off a selected number of said systems lying withinone of said systems corresponding to a selected blank.

2. A die structure according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises aplate having a configuration to cover said selected number of systems.

3. A die structure adapted to be modified for use with blanks ofmaterial each of a different predetermined size, comprising (A) a platenhaving on one surface thereof a plurality of grooves each adapted toreceive a sealing member for contact with the periphery of a blank ofpredetermined size, and

(B) means for covering a selected number of grooves lying within thearea to be covered by a selected blank of predetermined size.

4. A die structure according to claim 3 wherein said means comprises aninsert plate having a flange adapted for insertion into the groovecorresponding to said selected blank.

5. A die structure according to claim 4 further including means fillingsaid selected number of grooves covered by said insert plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,993,263 7/1961 Staples 29-157.33,024,525 3/1962 Wisberger 29-157.3

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DIE STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE MODIFIED FOR USE WITH BLANKS OFMATERIAL EACH OF A DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED SIZE, COMPRISING (A) A PLATENHAVING ONE ONE SURFACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF SYSTEMS OF INDENTATIONS,EACH OF SAID SYSTEMS BEING ADAPTED FOR COOPERATION WITH A BLANK OFPREDETERMINED SIZE, AND (B) MEANS FOR CLOSING OFF A SELECTED NUMBER OFSAID SYSTEMS FOR CLOSING OFF A SELECTED NUMBER OF SAID ING TO A SELECTEDBLANK.